Press Cupboard c. 1936

Francis Borelli created this drawing of a Press Cupboard with pen and ink on paper, but the date is unknown. Borelli lived through a period of significant social change, including the Victorian era and the rise of industrialization. This architectural drawing invites us to consider the cultural values embedded in domestic objects. Borelli's detailed rendering, emphasizing symmetry and decorative elements, reflects the era’s aesthetic preferences for ornate design. The cupboard, traditionally a symbol of domestic order and storage, speaks to the gendered roles within the household, where women were often responsible for maintaining the home. The drawing, with its precise lines and careful attention to detail, serves as both a functional plan and a statement about the aspirations of the time. What does it mean to craft an object meant to order space? And how does this order reflect the values of the time?